Cleaning covers for handles of swimming pool brushes and handles of swimming pool brushes formed therewith

ABSTRACT

A pool brush includes a handle including a proximal end and a distal end attached to a bristled head, and a cover fitted removably over a length of the handle between the proximal end and the distal end, the cover including an outer surface. Bristles for cleaning project outwardly from the outer surface of the cover. In another embodiment, protuberances for cleaning project outwardly from the outer surface of the cover.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/978,205, filed 18 Feb. 2020, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cleaning covers for the handles of swimming pool brushes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Swimming pools require regular brushing to circulate accumulated foreign materials to be filtered out of the pool and prevent algae growth and the like on the pool's surfaces, including its bottom, sides, submerged steps, and coping of the deck around the pool. A standard pool brush includes a long handle extending from an attached bristled head. The handle's length is sufficient to enable an operator to brush the pool's surfaces with the bristled head by pushing and pulling the bristled head against the pool's surfaces by the handle while standing next to the pool, such as on the pool's deck. However, reaching the various pool surfaces with the bristled head is laborious and fatiguing. Also, the pool brush's handle, typically made of hard plastic or metal, such as aluminum, can chip or otherwise mar the coping, the edges of the step, and other surfaces in and around the pool during the use of the pool brush to clean the pool. Given these and other deficiencies inherent with standard pool brushes, the need for improvement in the art is evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a pool brush includes a handle including a proximal end and a distal end attached to a bristled head, and a cover fitted removably over a length of the handle between the proximal end and the distal end, the cover including an outer surface. In one embodiment, bristles for cleaning project outwardly from the outer surface of the cover. The bristles of the cover are present throughout the outer surface of the cover, the bristles are integral with the cover, the cover and the bristles are formed of a material having inherently flexible, resilient, and elastic material characteristics, and the material comprises rubber, preferably vulcanized rubber. In another embodiment, protuberances for cleaning project outwardly from the outer surface of the cover. In this alternate embodiment, the protuberances of the cover are present throughout the outer surface of the cover, the protuberances are integral with the cover, the cover and the protuberances are formed of a material having inherently flexible, resilient, and elastic material characteristics, and the material comprises rubber, preferably vulcanized rubber. The cover includes a first end proximate to the distal end and a second end between the proximal end and the distal end. The cover also has a first marginal extremity and a second marginal extremity concurrently extending from the first end and the second end of the cover and is wrapped about the length of the handle juxtaposing the first marginal extremity with the second marginal extremity. A fastener releasably secures the first marginal extremity to the second marginal extremity. The fastener preferably includes a hook-and-loop fastener including an element thereof carried by the first marginal extremity and a complemental element thereof carried by the second marginal extremity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool bush including a handle having a proximal end and a distal end attached to an implement of bristles for cleaning, and a cleaning cover fitted removably over the handle between the proximal end and the distal end, the cover including an outer surface and bristles for cleaning projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the cover;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the pool brush of FIG. 1 illustrating the cover fitted removably over the handle;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a sequence of events for installing the cover over the handle of the pool brush first illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pool bush including a handle having a proximal end and a distal end attached to an implement of bristles for cleaning, and an alternate embodiment of a cleaning cover fitted removably over the handle between the proximal end and the distal end, the cover including an outer surface and protuberances for cleaning projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the cover;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the pool brush of FIG. 7 illustrating the cover fitted removably over the handle; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view corresponding to FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a standard pool brush 20 including a handle 22 having a proximal end/extremity 24, an opposite distal end/extremity 26 attached to a bristled head 30, and an outer surface 28 extending between proximal end 24 and distal end 26. Handle 22 is of hard plastic or metal, such as aluminum, and is longitudinally straight and approximately eight feet in length from proximal end 24 to distal end 26 according to standard practice. Handle 22 is conventionally extendable telescopingly by secondary handle 23 telescoped to handle 22 through proximal end 24. Bristled head 30 includes base 32 of hard metal or plastic and bristles 34 for cleaning extending therefrom. Bristles 34 are fashioned of heavy duty nylon or other like or similar material or combination of materials according to standard practice.

Pool brush 20 is generally representative of a standard and well-known pool brush, further details of which will readily occur to the person having ordinary skill in the art and will not be discussed in further detail. Pool brush 20 is specifically configured for brushing swimming pools to circulate accumulated foreign materials to be filtered out of the pool and prevent algae growth and the like on the pool's surfaces, including its bottom, sides, submerged steps, and coping of the deck around the pool. In use, an operator holds pool brush 20 by its long handle 22 and, while standing next to the pool, such as on its pool deck, brushes the various pool surfaces with bristles 34 of bristled head 30. However, reaching the various pool surfaces with bristled head 30, especially vertical surfaces, the surfaces of any of the pool's steps and the pool deck's coping, is laborious and fatiguing. Also, since handle 22 is customarily made of hard plastic or metal, such as aluminum, it can chip or otherwise mar the coping, the edges of the steps, and other surfaces in and around the pool during the use of pool brush 20 to clean the pool. According to the invention, cleaning cover 50 and its installation on handle 22 solves at least these problems.

A length L of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and distal end 26 is furnished with cover 50 to form a handle assembly in FIG. 1. Cover 50 is easy to install over and remove from length L, serves as a protective bumper to protect surfaces in and around the pool from directly contacting length L of handle over which cover 50 is applied, and is configured with bristles 80 useful for cleaning a swimming pool's vertical surfaces, the surfaces of any of the pool's steps, the coping of the pool deck, and the like at the same time bristled head 30 is brushed over the pool surfaces by an operator pushing and pulling bristled head 30 against the pool's surfaces by handle 22 while standing next to the pool.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 in relevant part, cover 50 includes first end/edge 52, second end/edge 54, first marginal extremity/edge 56, second marginal extremity/edge 58, inner surface 60, outer surface 62, a length from first end 52 to second end 54, a width from first marginal extremity 56 to second marginal extremity 58, and an axial dimension or thickness 59 in FIG. 4 that extends from inner surface 60 to outer surface 62. First and second ends 52 and 54 are equal in length and are parallel to each other. First and second marginal extremities 56 and 58 are equal in length and are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to first and second ends 52 and 54. First and second ends 52 and 54 each extend from first marginal extremity 56 to second marginal extremity 58, and first and second marginal extremities 56 and 58 each extend from first end 52 to second end 54. First and second marginal extremities 56 and 58 are longer than first and second ends 52 and 54, and the length of cover 50 from first end 52 to second end 54 is greater than the width of cover 50 from first marginal extremity 56 to second marginal extremity 58. Accordingly, cover 50 is elongate from first end 52 to second end 54 and is rectangular in overall shape.

Cover 50 is fabricated from a material or combination of materials having inherently flexible, resilient, elastic, water resistant, chemical resistant, and tear resistant material characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, cover 50 is formed of rubber and, more specifically, vulcanized rubber, any type of rubber that's been hardened by heat and sulfur while retaining its inherently flexible, resilient, and elastic properties.

Cover 50 incorporates fastener 70 for releasably securing/connecting first marginal extremity 56 to second marginal extremity 58. In this example, fastener 70, a fastener assembly, is a conventional and well-known hook-and-loop fastener, such as a type commonly found under the trademark VELCRO®, including element 72 thereof carried by first marginal extremity 56 and complemental element thereof 74 carried by second marginal extremity 58. Element 72 in FIGS. 4 and 6 extends along inner surface 60 of cover 50 adjacent and parallel to first marginal extremity 56 from proximate to first end 52 to proximate to second end 54, and is adhered in place adhesively and/or by sewing. Complemental element 74 extends along outer surface 62 adjacent and parallel to second marginal extremity 58 from proximate to first end 52 to proximate to second end 54, and is adhered in place adhesively and/or by sewing. Element 72 and complemental element 74 are equal in length. In this example of fastener 70, element 72 is a loop medium of the hook-and-loop fastener, and complemental element 74 is the hook medium of the hook-and-loop fastener. This arrangement of element 72 and complemental element 74 can be reversed if desired.

Cover 50 supports or otherwise incorporates bristles 80 for cleaning. Bristles 80, short and relatively stiff elongate members, project outwardly from outer surface 62 of cover 50, are spaced-apart and present throughout outer surface 62 between first and second ends 52 and 54 and first and second marginal extremities 56 and 58, and are substantially equal in size and shape. Bristles 80 are integral with the cover 50 and formed of the same rubber material as cover 50. Cover 50 is preferably molded with bristles 50, such as by injection molding, drip molding, or other chosen molding technique. Like cover 50, bristles 80 each have inherently flexible, resilient, elastic, water resistant, chemical resistant, and tear-resistant material characteristics. Bristles 80 can be formed in any desired shape or configuration without departing from the invention.

When cover 50 is installed onto handle 22 in FIGS. 1 and 2, cover 50 encircles or girdles length L of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and distal end 26 attached to bristled head 30, from first marginal extremity 56 secured to second marginal extremity 68 by fastener 70 from first end 52 to second end 54, and bristles 80 project outwardly from outer surface 62 away from outer surface 28 of handle 22. Cover 50 is installed over handle 22 by aligning inner surface 60 of cover 50 between first marginal extremity 56 and second marginal extremity 56 along the length of cover 50 from first end 52 to second end 54 with handle 22 in FIG. 5. Inner surface 60 is brought outer surface 28 of handle 22, second marginal extremity 58 from first end 52 to second end 54 is wrapped over outer surface 28 of handle 22 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6, and first marginal extremity 56 is subsequently wrapped tightly in the opposite direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 6 toward second marginal extremity 58 over outer surface 28 of handle 22 juxtaposing first marginal extremity 56 with second marginal extremity 58 by overlapping inner surface 60 of cover 50 of first marginal extremity 56 over outer surface 62 of cover 60 of second marginal extremity 58 while at the same time registering and bringing into direct contact the length of element 72 of fastener 70 along the length of cover 50 between first end 52 and second end 54 to the length of complemental element 74 of fastener 70 along the length of cover 50 between first end 52 and second end 54 releasably securing the length of element 72 of fastener 70 between first end 52 and second end 54 of cover 50 to the length of complemental element 74 of fastener 70 between first end 52 and second end 54 of cover 50 in reference to FIG. 2 releasably securing first marginal extremity 56 to second marginal extremity 58 releasably securing cover 50 wrapped tightly over outer surface 28 of handle 22. The width of cover 50 is sufficient to enable first marginal extremity 56 to overlap second marginal extremity 58 and register and engage element 72 of fastener 70 to complemental element 74 of fastener 70 in FIG. 4 for releasably securing first marginal extremity 56 to second marginal extremity 58 when cover 50 is wrapped tightly over outer surface 28 of handle between its proximal and distal ends 24 and 26 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the resulting installation of cover 50, cover 50 is wrapped tightly about, and encircles or otherwise girdles, outer surface 28 of handle 22 between its proximal and distal ends 24 and 26. In FIG. 4, inner surface 60 of cover 50 directly frictionally contacts, and thereby inherently grips, outer surface 28 of handle 22, thickness 59 of cover 50 circumscribing outer surface 28 of handle 22 extends outwardly from inner surface 60 to outer surface 62, and bristles 80 project radially outward from outer surface 62. In FIGS. 1 and 2, cover 50 is suitably positioned over outer surface 28 of handle 22 so it extends over length L of handle 22 extending from first end 52 proximate to distal end 26 connected to bristled head 30 to second end 54 at an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and proximal end 26 in FIG. 1. To withdraw cover 50 from handle, the described procedure for installing cover 50 over handle 22 need only be reversed.

In the use of pool brush 20 configured with attached cover 50 in FIG. 1, an operator holds pool brush 20 by its long handle 22 and, while standing next to the pool, such as on its pool deck, brushes the various pool surfaces with bristles 34 of bristled head 30 by pushing and pulling bristled head 30 over the pool's surfaces by handle 22. Cover 50 circumscribing outer surface 28 of handle 22 along length L from proximate to distal end 26 of handle 22 connected to bristled head 30 to an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and distal end 26 serves as a protective bumper to protect surfaces in and around the pool from directly contacting outer surface 28 of length L of handle over which cover 50 is applied. Bristles 80 projecting outwardly from outer surface 62 of cover 50 are especially useful for cleaning a swimming pool's vertical surfaces, the surfaces of any of the pool's steps, the coping of the pool deck, and the like at the same time bristled head 30 is brushed over the pool surfaces.

In this example, handle 22 is approximately eight feet in length from proximal end 24 to distal end 26 connected to bristled head 30. The length of cover 50 from first end 52 to second end 54 is sufficient in the instant embodiment to cover at least 45% of the length of handle 22, length L, from first end 52 proximate to distal end 26 connected to bristled head 30 to second end 54 at an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and proximal end 26 in FIG. 1. The described coverage of length L of handle 22 by cover 50 from first end 52 proximate to distal end 26 connected to bristled head 30 to second end 54 at an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and proximal end 26 in FIG. 1 suitably enables cover 50 to serve as a protective bumper to protect surfaces in and around the pool from directly contacting length L of handle over which cover 50 is applied and to enable its bristles 80 to clean a swimming pool's vertical surfaces, the surfaces of any of the pool's steps, the coping of the pool deck, and the like at the same time bristled head 30 is brushed over the pool surfaces by an operator pushing and pulling bristled head 30 against the pool's surfaces by handle 22 while standing next to the pool. The described coverage of length L of handle 22 by cover 50 generally corresponds to a typical up-and-down stroke path of pool brush 20 when it is pushed and pulled by handle 22 by an average operator standing next to the pool. While the length of cover 50 from first end 52 to second end 54 is sufficient in the instant embodiment to cover at least 45% of the length of handle 22, length L, from first end 52 proximate to distal end 26 connected to bristled head 30 to second end 54 at an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and distal end 26 in FIG. 1, a preferred range of coverage of a length handle 22 by cover 50 from distal end 26 connected to bristled head 30 to an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and distal end 26 when cover 50 is suitably installed over handle 22 is from at least 30-60% of the standard eight-foot length of handle 22.

Fastener 70 is a hook-and-loop fastener including element 72 and complemental element 74. This hook-and-loop fastener is releasable, repeatedly useful, efficient, and easy to use. Other suitable releasable fasteners for repeatedly releasably securing and releasing first marginal extremity 56 of cover 50 to and from second marginal extremity 58 of cover 58 can be used if desired. Other suitable fasteners can be used for releasably securing first and second marginal extremities 56 and 58, such as a slide fastener assembly consisting of complementing rows of metal or plastic teeth carried by the respective side marginal extremities 56 and 58 configured to be joined and released with a suitable slider, mutual snap fasteners, mutual button fasteners, etc., without departing from the invention.

Bristles 80 serve as the structure projecting outwardly from outer surface 62 of cover 50 useful for cleaning surfaces in and around a pool as described above. In an alternate embodiment of a cleaning cover 50A constructed and arranged according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 7-9, bristles 80 of cover 50 are replaced by protuberances 102 in cover 50A. Except for having protuberances 102 in place of bristles 80, cover 50A and how it is installed over handle 22 in FIGS. 7-9 are identical in every respect to cover 50 and how it is installed over handle 22 in FIGS. 1-3. Except for protuberances 102 of cover 100, the details of cover 50 and its installation over handle 22 apply in every respect to cover 100 and its installation over handle 22.

Cover 50A supports or otherwise incorporates protuberances 100 for cleaning in place of the previously-described bristles 80 of cover 50. Protuberances 100 are rounded projections or bulges that project outwardly from outer surface 62 of cover 50A. Projections 100 are spaced-apart and present throughout outer surface 62 between first and second ends 52 and 54 and first and second marginal extremities 56 and 58 reference in FIG. 9, and are substantially equal in size and shape. Protuberances 100 are integral with the cover 50A and formed of the same rubber material as cover 50A. Cover 50A is preferably molded with protuberances 100 bristles 50, such as by injection molding, drip molding, or other chosen molding technique. Like cover 50A, protuberances 100 each have inherently flexible, resilient, elastic, water resistant, chemical resistant, and tear-resistant material characteristics. Protuberances 100 can be formed in a variety of shapes, such as pointed, rounded, textured, jagged, or the like, without departing from the invention.

In the use of pool brush 20 configured with attached cover 50A in FIG. 7, an operator holds pool brush 20 by its long handle 22 and, while standing next to the pool, such as on its pool deck, brushes the various pool surfaces with bristles 34 of bristled head 30. Cover 50A circumscribing outer surface 28 of handle 22 along length L from proximate to distal end 26 of handle 22 connected to bristled head 30 to an intermediate location of handle 22 between proximal end 24 and distal end 26 serves as a protective bumper to protect surfaces in and around the pool from directly contacting outer surface 28 of length L of handle over which cover 50 is applied. Protuberances 100 projecting outwardly from outer surface 62 of cover 50 are, like the previously-described bristles 80, especially useful for cleaning a swimming pool's vertical surfaces, the surfaces of any of the pool's steps, the coping of the pool deck, and the like at the same time bristled head 30 is brushed over the pool surfaces.

The present invention is described above with reference to illustrative embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. Various further changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: 

1. A pool brush, comprising: a handle including a proximal end and a distal end attached to a bristled head; a cover fitted removably over a length of the handle between the proximal end and the distal end, the cover including an outer surface and bristles for cleaning projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the cover.
 2. The pool brush according to claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises a first end proximate to the distal end and a second end between the proximal end and the distal end.
 3. The pool brush according to claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises: a first marginal extremity and a second marginal extremity concurrently extending from the first end and the second end of the cover; the cover is wrapped about the length of the handle juxtaposing the first marginal extremity with the second marginal extremity; and a fastener releasably securing the first marginal extremity to the second marginal extremity.
 4. The pool brush according to claim 3, wherein the fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener including an element thereof carried by the first marginal extremity and a complemental element thereof carried by the second marginal extremity.
 5. The pool brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles are integral with the cover.
 6. The pool brush according to claim 5, wherein the cover and the bristles are formed of a material having inherently flexible, resilient, and elastic material characteristics.
 7. The pool brush according to claim 6, wherein the material comprises rubber.
 8. The pool brush according to claim 1, wherein the bristles of the cover are present throughout the outer surface of the cover.
 9. A pool brush, comprising: a handle including a proximal end and a distal end attached to a bristled head; and a cover fitted removably over a length of the handle between the proximal end and the distal end, the cover including an outer surface and protuberances for cleaning projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the cover.
 10. The pool brush according to claim 9, wherein the cover further comprises a first end proximate to the distal end and a second end between the proximal end and the distal end.
 11. The pool brush according to claim 10, wherein the cover further comprises: a first marginal extremity and a second marginal extremity concurrently extending from the first end and the second end of the cover; the cover is wrapped about the length of the handle juxtaposing the first marginal extremity with the second marginal extremity; and a fastener releasably securing the first marginal extremity to the second marginal extremity.
 12. The pool brush according to claim 11, wherein the fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener including an element thereof carried by the first marginal extremity and a complemental element thereof carried by the second marginal extremity.
 13. The pool brush according to claim 9, wherein the protuberances are integral with the cover.
 14. The pool brush according to claim 13, wherein the cover and the protuberances are formed of a material having inherently flexible, resilient, and elastic material characteristics.
 15. The pool brush according to claim 14, wherein the material comprises rubber.
 16. The pool brush according to claim 9, wherein the protuberances are present throughout the outer surface of the cover. 